PTSD Dogs’ High Tea for the Hounds is back on again this year with a big goal, to raise $40,000, the amount needed to fully train one rescue dog to become a certified assistance dog for a veteran or first responder living with PTSD.
The event, now in its fourth year, will be held on Friday 18 July at 10.30am at the Maroochy RSL on the Sunshine Coast.
Guests will be treated to a decadent high tea experience, complete with live music by acclaimed Australian/Fijian musician Andrea Kirwin, and a special appearance from the beloved Dame Edna impersonator, promising laughter and unforgettable entertainment.
The seven-year-old charity trains rescue dogs to become life-saving companions for our service heroes – the veterans and first responders who face the ongoing challenges of PTSD.
These assistance dogs provide more than companionship: they interrupt nightmares, anticipate medical episodes, provide emotional grounding, and help their handlers regain independence and safety in everyday life.
Transformation has a ripple effect – not only do the lives of the veterans/first responders improve, but so do the lives of friends and family members supporting these amazing service people.
Co-founder, chief executive officer and pack leader, Angie Weeks said, “Training a rescue dog between 10 months and two years old to become an assistance dog is no easy feat It takes more than three hundred hours, deep dedication, and a skilled team. But the outcome is extraordinary – we’re saving dogs, and in turn, these dogs are saving lives. We are grateful to our sponsors and other supporters for helping us to make this event a success.”
Co-founder and director Roger Weeks knows the power of that bond firsthand.
“My assistance dog, Rosie, literally saved my life. After my service in the Royal Australian Air Force, I struggled with the weight of PTSD. Rosie helped me turn my pain into purpose – and now we help others find that same hope,” he said.
By attending High Tea for the Hounds, guests are directly contributing to this vital cause – helping to save two lives: a rescue dog’s and a veteran or first responder’s.
To buy tickets, visit events.humanitix.com/high-tea-for-the-hounds-2025
